Chapter 17 Flashcards
major religions from fastest growing to slowest growing
islam, christianity, hinduism, judaism, buddhism
secularization
the movement of society away from religious beliefs
liberation theology
religious movement consisting of catholic beliefs and social justice for the poor
theism
belief in one or more supernatural dieties
Reasons for resurgence of religion today
- Failure of government instiutions
- competition of religions
- relationship among relationship of religion, ethnicity and politics
Characteristics of sects
less organized, less officials, often viewed as corrupt by the main group
denomination
sect that has become instutitionalized as opposed to an activist protest group, often harmonious with main group, sects that have lasted over time
cults
resemble sects, reject societal views, innovate religion instead of revive it, usually high in tension with society, `
Marx view of religion
aliienation, religious people better understanf the social forces oppressing them so they can rise up and overthrow oppressors,
alienation
term my Marx to describe the projection of human abilities onto gods, sense that our abilities are owed to entities
Durkheim view of religion
connected religion with society’s institutions, totemism is religion’s elementary form, functionalist, religion affirms a stable society by making people meet to affirm values and beliefs
totemism
worships of objects believed to embody mystical spirits
profane
objects belonging to the mundane and everyday world
Weber view of religion
concentrates on religion and social change, religion is not a conservative force but inspires movements,
religious economy
view that religions compete with each other for followers, this is better than a religious monopoly
zionism
a movement calling for jews to return to Palestine and create a Jewish state
civil religion
a set of religious beliefs through which society interprets its own history in light of some conception of ultimate reality
phases of religious movement
- cohesion from a powerful leader
2. death of charasmatic leader and movement must survive
Categories of religious movements
world-affirming, world-rejecting and world accomodating
World affirming movements
enhance followers potential by unlocking potential
New age movements
world affirming movements describing movements focused on inner spirituality
World accommodating movements
emphasize importance of inner religious life and spiritual purity over worldly concerns
socioeconomic status of different denominations
liberal protestants are well educated, higher income and middle or upper class. Moderate protestants are lower on this scale. Black protestants are the lowest. Conservative protestants are slightly higher than black protestants. Catholics resemble moderate protestants. Jews have the highest
Christian denominations from most to least tolerant
jews, liberal protestant/catholics, moderate/black protestants, conservative protestants
religious nationalism
the linking of strongly held religious convictions about a group’s political and social identities
evangelicism
a form of protestantism characterized by a belief in spiritual rebirth, formed in response to secularism and decline of protestant values
Fundamentalists
Evangeslists who are highly antimodern and adhere to strict codes of moral conduct
